Morgantown police, Ruby Memorial Hospital security defuse gun incident

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A 30-year-old male is in custody following an incident at Ruby Memorial Hospital Thursday morning.

Morgantown police chief says his officers and Ruby Memorial Hospital security worked together on the situation.

“Officers received a report of an individual in psychiatric distress who had locked himself in a car at Ruby Memorial Hospital parking lot,”Preston said,”When they arrived they received information the individual was armed with a handgun so officers and hospital security evacuated the area.”

Preston says after negotiating with the subject he agreed to a mental evaluation and surrendered a rifle and a handgun.

Morgantown police say around 9 a.m. officers found the subject barricaded in a car with a gun and in mental distress.

After evacuating the area, police and hospital security began negotiating with the subject until he agreed to a mental evaluation.

Preston says no arrests will be made.

“Apparently there was a dramatic history between he and some family members, verbal altercations, nothing physical,”Preston said,”He was in psychiatric distress from all reports that we have, no intent to harm anyone else, no threats made to anyone or anything.”

No injuries were reported.